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No. 244,205. Patented Ju1y12.1881.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

JOHN F. DUBBEB, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

WRITING-TABLET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 244,205, dated July 12, 1881.

Application filed November 9, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN F. DUBBER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Writing-Tablets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in writing-tablets 5 and it consists in the combination, with the base-plate, of a transverse spring-plate having its ends bent around and attached to the under side of the base, and its longitudinal body portion intermediate its attached ends entirely disconnected from the base and curved or bent in the direction of its length to bear on the sheets of paper, and provided with a thumb-button for elevating the spring-plate.

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l represents a face view. Fig. 2 is a transverse section in the plane a: Fig. 1.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, the letter A designates the base-plate oi' my writingtablet, which is made of pasteboard or any other suitable material, and which may be covered with a sheet of blotting-paper, or with any other material suitableforforminga convenient support for sheets of paper during the operation of writin g thereon. For the purpose of retaining the sheets of paper on the base-plate I use a spring, B, which is fastened to said base-plate at its ends, while its intermediate portion is left unsupported and bent in such a manner that it bears down upon the surface of the base-plate, or upon the paper resting thereon. In the example shown in the drawings the ends ofthe spring B are made to straddle the edges of the baseplate, and they are held in position partly by the covering of the spring and partly by the back lining of the base-plate, and I consider this Inode of securing said spring to the baseplate very convenient; but it will be readily understood that the ends of the springs may be fastened to the base-plate in any other suitable manner.

,In the middle of the spring B is secured a button, G, by means of which said spring can be readily raised for the purpose of introducing beneath it one or more sheets of paper, or for releasing the sheet or sheets previously introduced. A t the same time my spring allows of moving thesheets of paper upward on the base-plate during the operation of writing,

so that the hand of the writer has a convenI ient support down to the bottom line of each sheet.

By the employment of a plate-spring, bent or curved and attached to the base-plate at its ends, as herein described, and provided with the central thumb-button for manipulating the same, I provide an exceedingly simple and comparatively inexpensive writing-tablet, and one in which the back of the tablet is smooth and plain, and can rest in a fiat position on a desk or other support.

I am aware that a tablet has been constructed in which a tube has been arranged across the sheets of paper, said tube containing a rubber or a spiral spring, to the outer ends of which spring are connected inelastic cords or tapes, which are attached to the cover or back ofthe tablet, or to a spring within a tube on the opposite side of the tablet when two tubes are employed. In such construction the cords or tapes are very liable to breakage, and, further, the complicated nature of such device renders it liable to become disarranged or inoperative, owin g to the connection of several distinct parts, and the fact that a rubber or spiral spring of the simple character required for the tube will soon lose its inherent elasticity.

I am aware that a clasp for bill-tiles has been made of a strip of spring metal doubled on itself for encircling the bills, and.` provided at its adjoining ends with a spring lock or catch, whereby the clasp can be readily detached; but such is not my invention and is hereby disclaimed.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

'Ihe combination, with the base-plate of a writing-tablet, of a transverse spring-plate having its ends bent around and attached to the under side of the base, and its longitudinal body portion intermediate its attached ends entirely disconnected from the base and curved or bent in the direction of its length to bear on the sheets of paper, and provided at its center with a thumb-button for elevating the spring-plate, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Witnesses: JOHN F. DUBBER. [n s] W. HAUEE, WILLIAM MILLER.

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